Key holder



A ril 19, 1949. I N. J. PATTS 2,467,985

KEY HOLDER Filed Feb. 4, 1947 INVENTOR.

' ATTD RN EYE Patented Apr. 19, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY HOLDER Nickolas James Patts, Odessa, Tex.

Application February 4, 1947, Serial No. 726,264

1 Claim.

My present invention relates to an improved key holder or retainer of the pocket-book type adapted for personal Wear, and including a foldable flexible cover or envelope enclosing an interior foldable and flexible leaf that performs the functions of a carrier for a set of keys, which are detachably fastened to the carrier or leaf.

The cover and enclosed leaf are provided with means for identification of the owner of the key holder, and for emergency use the device is provided with an address card by means of which the holder when lost may be returnd by mail to the owner.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an article of manufacture that is simple in construction and durable, which may with convenience be carried in a pocket where it is readily accessible for use, and which may when necessary be converted into a postal package for restoring by mail the keys in the event of loss of the key holder.

While the device of my invention may be adapted to various other uses, it is especially designed for use as a key holder or key retainer, and as hereinafter described and illustrated, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts that are more specifically set forth in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of a key holder in which the parts are combined and arranged in accord with one mode I have devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention. It will however, be understood that changes and alterations may be made in these exemplifying drawings and structures, within the scope of my claims, without departing from the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a front face view of a key holder embodying my invention, the parts being folded and fastened for carrying in a pocket; and Figure 2 is a rear view of the holder of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the holder with parts unfolded to disclose their relation.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the interior foldable leaf or key-carrier, with parts of the cover broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the holder illustrating the manner of converting the holder into a postal package for mailing the lost holder to its owner.

Figure 6 is a perspective view sowing the holder. converted into a postal package ready for mailing.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in the drawings I employ leather or other suitable flexible and foldable material which is cut or stamped to proper shapes, and the outer envelope or cover of the holder or case consists of a central rectangular panel I having an address opening or window 2, together with an inner rectangular foldable panel 3, and an outer closure or flap 4.

The closure flap 4 is provided with a socket member 5 of a snap fastener, and the inner panel 3 is provided with a complementary head 6 of the snap fastener, for use in fastening the entire holder in folded or closed position for pocket use as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, and for mailing as a postal package in Fig. 6.

Within the cover or envelope is mounted a foldable leaf providing a card holder having a base portion 1 that is rigidly attached to one end of the central cover-panel l by means of a fiat metallic base plate 8, which is riveted at 9, or otherwise fastened, to the base plate 8 and also to the end portion of the panel I.

The metallic base plate, which forms the carrier for a set of keys K, is provided with conventional snap hooks H] for the keys, and the latter are snugly enclosed within the folded leaf in usual manner.

The interior laterally openable and foldable leaf or holder includes an inner foldable section II that is integral with the base 1 and adapted to fold outwardly along the inner edge of the metallic base plate 8 by which it is attached and aflixed to the main window panel I of the cover, and an outer laterally foldable and reversible section l2.

The interior folder leaf or card holder is held within the cover by means of a pair of quick detachable fasteners including a socket member [3 mounted on the main central panel I of the cover, and a complementary head l4 mounted on the inner fold or section II of the holder. To accommodate the reversible section I2 a hole I5 is provided therein to permit snapping of these members l3 and M in order that the card holder may be secured in usual position, and also to fasten the sections within the case with the section l2 reversed when the key holder is converted into a postal package.

An address card or identification card I6 is mounted on the inner section II of the holder, which section is provided with corner tabs I! to receive the corners of the card, and the card is located on the side of the section I l opposite to the side that accommodates the keys.

In position for pocket use, and referring to Fig. 3, the section I2 is first folded to the left over the address card, and then the card holder is folded to cover the opening 2 of the main panel l, after which the members l3 and M of the snap fastener are engaged through hole 15. In this manner the window 2 is closed and the keys on the card holder or carrier are readily exposed by unclasping the snap fasteners 5 and 6 of the cover.

For converting the key holder into a postal package that may be mailed to the owner, the section I2 is folded to the right in Fig. 3 over the keys; the card holder is then turned to the left bringing the identification card into position within the window 2; and the card holder is fastened by the members l3 and [4. Then the rectangular panel 3 is infolded over the card holder and keys, the cover flap 4 is folded, into place, and the device is fastened by use of the snap fasteners 5 and 6,

Having thus fully described by invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a key carrier, the combination which comprises a case having a central panel with a window therein, an inner panel hinged to one edge of the central panel and positioned to fold over the inner surface of the central panel, and a flange hinged to the opposite edge of said central panel and positioned to fold over said inner panel with the case folded, a card holder having an inner card holding section with means for holding a card thereon with the card positioned to be displayed through the window of the central panel of the case, and an outer section hinged to the extended edge of the inner card holding section and positioned to fold on either side of said card holding section, said card holding section having an extended end positioned against the inner surface of said central panel of the case betweeen one end of the window and the adjacent end of the case, and a key holding base positioned against the said extended end of the inner section of the card holder and riveted through the said extended end of the inner section of the card holder to the said central panel of the case.

NICKOLAS JAMES PATTS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,128,136 Hano Feb. 9, 1915 1,147,925 Chambers July 27, 1915 1,558,213 Atkins Oct. 20, 1925 1,857,146 Gardner May 10, 1932 1,944,345 Hughes Jan. 23, 1934 1,960,054 Johnson May 22, 1934 2,156,875 Schwartz May 2, 1939 2,319,110 Buxton May 11, 1943 

